New releases available on open-reel tape

[Marco]

I just wondered if some of you reel-to-reel guys knew of this place:

http://www.tapeproject.com/

Looks interesting!

Marco.

[Beechwoods]

It is a great project - 15ips real-time duplicated '1½ gen' duplications from masters on half track quarter-inch tape, (would work extremely well in Neil's B77). The closest you are likely to get to the original master in the analogue domain.

But have you seen the prices?! If you really like one of their releases the price does start to make sense, but $300 is not the kind of money you pay to see how an album sounds

Compare this with the vacuum-bin approach to to duplicating old reel to reels - I've read elsewhere that masters would run at 240ips and slaves at 120ips... that said there are some great factory releases on 7½ips reel to reel, and some of the better 3¾ips releases can sound good too.

A little off-topic, but here are a few things from my pre-rec reel to reels collection, from the olden days (not tape-project stuff - these are a little cheaper )

[REM]

Wow, I'll take that red deck, that is a serious bit of audio pornology.
Been thinking lately when we say that a well fettled DD turntable sounds more like CD but in the right way what we should be saying is that it is more like 15 ips R2R

Cheers

[Spectral Morn]

My understanding though is that your reel to reel needs to be tweaked to play Tape Project tapes.

I don't fancy doing that to be honest (can't really afford it anyway). If I was going to have any mods done/service etc I would send my B77 to Brian Reeves, but that would I suspect cost me about £400 all in, or more perhaps....maybe when I am back in work.

The big problem with old commercial reels is you need a good quarter track machine to play them on. I have done something about that last week...all will be revealed soon

I wonder about SSS with pre-recorded reels or print-through...have you had many problems Nick ? This has put me off buying any.

I plan to make some live simple mic all analogue recordings later this year or early next year of a very talented female singer song writer I know. These will be used to help me evaluate gear.

Regards D S D L

[Beechwoods]

You're right Neil; they use IEC standard EQ rather than NAB or CCIR. I'm keen to hear more about your quarter track adventure

On print through I'll drop some thoughts later, but one thing you should always do is store recordings tails out ; ie don't rewind back off the take-up reel. This keeps any print through 'inside' the recording rather than before it.

[DSJR]

My understanding though is that your reel to reel needs to be tweaked to play Tape Project tapes.

I don't fancy doing that to be honest (can't really afford it anyway). If I was going to have any mods done/service etc I would send my B77 to Brian Reeves, but that would I suspect cost me about £400 all in, or more perhaps....maybe when I am back in work.

The big problem with old commercial reels is you need a good quarter track machine to play them on. I have done something about that last week...all will be revealed soon

I wonder about SSS with pre-recorded reels or print-through...have you had many problems Nick ? This has put me off buying any.

I plan to make some live simple mic all analogue recordings later this year or early next year of a very talented female singer song writer I know. These will be used to help me evaluate gear.

Regards D S D L

Too far south for you Neil, but - http://www.taperecorder.co.uk/index.html near Ipswich may be an option for southern/eastern tape buffs. the site's worth a look anyway.

I had a collection of IEC equalised tapes and compared to NAB ones, the differences in eq were really small and less than comparing different cartridges on a turntable IMO.

These old Revoxes are so cheap now I'd love another one. Beware with A77's though - an otherwise mint condition one had crumbling presets inside, although once serviced it worked a treat. The B77 had better headroom than an un-modified A77...

[Spectral Morn]

Too far south for you Neil, but - http://www.taperecorder.co.uk/index.html near Ipswich may be an option for southern/eastern tape buffs. the site's worth a look anyway.

I had a collection of IEC equalised tapes and compared to NAB ones, the differences in eq were really small and less than comparing different cartridges on a turntable IMO.

These old Revoxes are so cheap now I'd love another one. Beware with A77's though - an otherwise mint condition one had crumbling presets inside, although once serviced it worked a treat. The B77 had better headroom than an un-modified A77...

Hi Dave

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately all the mainland service centres are to far south for me. Brian Reeves of Service sound does supply flight cases for shipping to him and back, which I think is a pretty good idea and worth the money....at some point. The B77 I got isn't to bad, but there was no box for it a common problem. Why don't people keep their boxes I went to Scotland to get it which cost less than posting and my wife and I got a very nice day out as well. A result all round.

Ummm A77 more to tell about those in the future.

Regards D S D L

[Spectral Morn]

You're right Neil; they use IEC standard EQ rather than NAB or CCIR. I'm keen to hear more about your quarter track adventure

On print through I'll drop some thoughts later, but one thing you should always do is store recordings tails out ; ie don't rewind back off the take-up reel. This keeps any print through 'inside' the recording rather than before it.

Thank you Nick I asked about this on Tapeheads and was ignored. I asked a question as part of a thread about print through and the term "tails out" was used...silence was my reply. Tapeheads can be a bit frustrating that way.

Thanks for the info Nick


Regards D S D L

[Beechwoods]

No problem. I must admit that while I really like Tapeheads I don't follow many of the discussions on there just because there's only so much time in the day!

Low-print tape is formulated to minimise print-through, for archiving. 'Backed' tape is also designed to minimise print through by separating the adjacent recorded layers by a backing on the reverse side of the tape.

BTW... what's SSS ?

[DSJR]

Hi Dave

Ummm A77 more to tell about those in the future.

Regards D S D L

Do tell when you're able..

off topic, but I'd love to have an A76 tuner again. I foolishly sold mine in favour of a gorgeous looking Luxman T88-V. Appearances were only skin deep sadly on this one, the thick-toned and squidgey mess emanating from it wasn't too pleasant IMO.